Honors Peer Mentor: Brynna Bowman

Hometown: Fort Wayne, IN

Major: Applied Medicine

Minors: Massage Therapy & Nutrition

What do you like most about being an Honors student?

My favorite thing about being an Honors student is the community of like-minded students. I’m able to go around campus and see familiar faces. By not only just walking around, but in my classes, too. I have made some of my best friends in the Honors College and we have made amazing memories. One thing that I also love, is the priority registration. It is very nice to have a higher chance of getting into the classes you want/need since you get to schedule before non-honors students. The Honors College staff is fantastic. They will always be up to have a conversation with you about school or sometimes even life in general. I love that the Honors College has numerous fun events, various opportunities to build your resume, and even free breakfast once a month. Long story short, being an Honors student has been such a blessing. The community is supportive, kind, and it is a family.

Leadership and involvement at STATE:

You can catch me at pretty much any sporting event on campus. In the fall you can find me at volleyball, soccer, and football games. In the winter I will most definitely be at basketball games, and in the spring you can sometimes find me at softball games. Being a University Honors Scholar has given me the opportunity to meet a lot of the staff that work behind the scenes that play a vital role in ISU’s success. I have learned about many qualities that a leader needs to be successful, and how to handle where life takes you when it is the direction that you least expected.

What advice do you have for incoming Honors students?

When I was in high school, I was hesitant to try anything new. My best advice is to just get involved at the start. Do not be afraid to say hello to people. Everyone else is new and they are just as nervous as you. I would have never imagined that I would be taking advantage of some of the opportunities that have come my way. Many people talk about learning how to say “no” to things, but I think that it is just as important to learn how to say “yes” (within reason, of course). Jump on the opportunities you have because you are only in college for 4 years. This year I have gone to all of the symphonies that Dr. Bierly offered us the opportunity to go to, and I would have never thought that I would like to attend them as much as I do. Take advantage of all the Honors College events because they are so much fun. One thing that I always recommend is getting to know the people that live on your floor or even just in your building. It is super beneficial to be able to go knock on a friend’s door to get support, ask them to read over a paper, take a study break, or even just to play cards. Something that really helped me was finding buildings to study in when I am not in class. I find them easier to focus in and they tend to make me more motivated. Just know that the Honors College community is always here for you and we want what is best for you.